DIThe Distraction Index

#privacy

12 events across 10 weeks

5Damage
5Hype
2Noise
26.7Avg Dmg
26.7Avg Hype
WEEK 84Aug 2 – 8
DMG2026-08-03
States Sue to Block Federal Data Sharing of Personal Information
Policy Changemulti state · broad
Damage
30.4
Hype
20.0
WEEK 79Jun 28 – Jul 4
NOISE2026-06-24
Supreme Court Blocks Trump Administration Voter Data Collection Effort
Judicial/Legal Actionfederal · broad
Damage
0.0
Hype
22.8
WEEK 68Apr 12 – 18
HYPE2026-04-15
Trump Urges Extension of Foreign Surveillance Program
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · broad
Damage
11.5
Hype
29.0
WEEK 61Feb 22 – 28
NOISE2026-02-24
IRS Permitted to Share Immigrant Taxpayer Data with ICE
Enforcement Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
24.4
Hype
18.1
WEEK 60Feb 15 – 21
HYPE2026-01-29
Trump Sues IRS and Treasury Over Tax Return Leak
Judicial/Legal Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
11.1
Hype
25.0
DMG2026-01-07
Trump Administration Sues to Force States to Share Voter Data
Election Admin Changemulti state · broad
Damage
38.2
Hype
23.8
HYPE2025-10-10
DOJ Attempts to Seize Pennsylvania Voter Data Challenged by Voters and Civil Rights Groups
Election Admin Changesingle state · broad
Damage
24.8
Hype
49.2
WEEK 58Feb 1 – 7
HYPE2026-02-05
Epstein Files Released with Uncensored Content
Judicial/Legal Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
8.2
Hype
21.6
WEEK 50Dec 7 – 13
DMG2025-12-11
Trump Administration Proposes Social Media History Requirement for Visa Applicants
Policy Changefederal · moderate
Damage
33.8
Hype
24.2
WEEK 33Aug 10 – 16
DMG2025-08-16
Trump Wants States to Feed Voter Info into Citizenship Data Program
Election Admin Changemulti state · broad
Damage
41.3
Hype
21.6
WEEK 23Jun 1 – 7
DMG2025-06-07
Supreme Court Grants DOGE Access to Social Security Records
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
78.5
Hype
28.4
WEEK 1Dec 29 – Jan 4
HYPE2025-01-04
Cybertruck Explosion Reveals Tesla Surveillance Capabilities
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
18.8
Hype
36.2